2nd man charged in theft of $150K left behind by ATM workers

MAHWAH, N.J. (AP) — A second man who allegedly made off with a bag containing $150,000 in cash mistakenly left behind by ATM workers in New Jersey has been arrested, police said.

Jamar Bludson, 35, and Alton Harvey, 42, of Hillside, took the money that had been forgotten outside a Mahwah business on July 27, authorities said.

Bludson jumped out of a van being driven by Harvey and grabbed the bag, police said. That theft and another — a van pulling into a nearby auto repair business and pilfering used tires — were captured on surveillance video, according to police.

Officers found Bludson at a motel in Newark on Tuesday, Police Chief James Batelli said in an email. He was being held on $125,000 bail, charged with theft of mislaid property. It was not known whether he had an attorney who could comment on the charge.

Harvey was arrested on July 31. Harvey admitted driving the van and told detectives that he purchased a Chevrolet Tahoe with some of the cash from the bag soon after it was grabbed, Batelli said. The SUV, which has a starting sticker price of $46,000, was parked near the van when Harvey was arrested.

Investigators determined the ATM workers were not involved in the theft.